Doll

ABSTRACT

A doll including a head ( 12 ), a torso and limbs in the form of arms and legs. The doll includes a face ( 18 ) having particular facial elements such as eyes ( 20 ), a mouth ( 22 ) and a pair of antennae ( 24 ). Each eye ( 20 ) includes an eyeball ( 26 ) and an eye rim ( 28 ). The eye rim ( 28 ) is formed from an elongate member of an endless loop configuration. The eye rim ( 28 ) is stitched to the face ( 18 ) at four locations and is constructed from a core material about which a decorative liner is disposed. The core material may be a light gauge rod of a plastically deformable material such as wire. Thus the eye rims ( 28 ) and other facial features can be manipulated by hand to vary their shapes and thus the facial expression of the doll.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a doll and relatesparticularly, though not exclusively, to a doll including facialfeatures which can be manipulated to vary its expression.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,493 describes a stuffed toy in theconfiguration of a pickle. The stuffed toy has changeable facialexpressions in relation to the eyes and mouth. The eyes and mouth areformed from a stud which pierces the stuffed toy and is held in positionvia a washer, The remainder of the eyes or mouth are formed from a vinylpanel cut out in a crescent-shape and rotationally mounted to the stufftoy via the stud and washer arrangement. The expression of the stuffedtoy may be changed by rotating the eyes and/or mouth panels which aremade of a stiff material such an vinyl.

[0003] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,040 and 5,800,242 also disclose dolls ortoys including facial features which can be manipulated to, for example,selectively achieve a wide variety of moods or expressions. U.S.5,376,040 describes a doll including a mouth in the form of an elasticband which is resilient wherein the mouth is temporarily deformed usinga pair of fingers and thereafter the mouth returns to its undeformedconfiguration. U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,242 describes a toy including askeleton structure of a plastically deformable material, the reinforcingframe of the skeleton structure being embedded in the material such asthe rubber moulding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a dollcomprising a face having one or more facial elements each beingrepresentative of a facial feature and being elongate and of an endlessloop configuration which is stitched or otherwise adhered at at leasttwo opposite and distant locations to an exposed surface of the face,each of the facial elements being constructed of a plasticallydeformable material which can be manipulated whereupon it retains itsmanipulated shape to change the shape of the facial feature and thus thefacial expression of the doll.

[0005] Preferably each of the facial elements includes an elongatemember of an endless loop configuration. More preferably the elongatemember is in the form of the facial feature of a mouth or an eye's rim.

[0006] Preferably the elongate member of the facial element includes arelatively light gauge rod of a plastically deformable material such asa wire or plastic material. More preferably the light gauge rod is acore material about which a decorative liner is disposed.

[0007] Generally the face is fabricated from a pliable fabric such asvelour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of thepresent invention a preferred embodiment of a doll will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a front view of two variants of a doll;

[0010]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a face of one of the dolls of FIG.1; and

[0011]FIG. 3 is the face of FIG. 2 shown with various facialexpressions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1 there are two forms of a doll both designatedgenerally as 10 including a head 12, a torso 14 and limbs 16 in the formof arms and legs. The doll 10 of this embodiment is fabricated as astuffed doll and generally represents a distinctive looking alien.

[0013] As beat shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the head 12 of the doll 10includes a face 18 having particular facial elements. In this embodimentthe facial elements include its eyes shown generally as 20, a mouth 22,and a pair of antenna such as 24. Thus, each of the facial elements isrepresentative of a facial feature of the doll 10.

[0014] Each of the eyes such as 20 includes an eyeball 26 which is inthe form of a button fixed to the head 12, and an eye rim 28. The eyerim 28 is formed from an elongate member of an endless loopconfiguration. The eye rim 28 is in this example stitched to the face 18at four (4) spaced apart location. The eye rim 28 is constructed from acore material about which a decorative liner is disposed. The corematerial is in this example a relatively light gauge rod of aplastically deformable material such as a wire or plastic material. Thedecorative liner is of a satin or other appropriate decorative fabric.

[0015] The eye rims such as 28 can thus be manipulated by hand to varythe shape of this particular facial feature and thus the facialexpression of the doll 10. The plastically deformable material fromwhich the eye rims 2B are constructed together with their spaced apartfixing to the face 18 permit this varied manipulation of the facialfeature.

[0016] The mouth 22 is similarly constructed of an elongate member of anendless loop configuration. The mouth 22 is initially shaped in itscurved configuration of FIG. 2 and stitched to the face 18 at two (2)opposite and distant locations. Thus, the mouth 22 which is alsoconstructed from the plastically deformable material can be manipulatedinto a variety of shapes and forms indicative of a particular facialexpression.

[0017] The alien doll 10 of this embodiment includes the pair of antennasuch as 24 fixed to and protruding from the head 12. Each of the antennasuch as 24 is formed of the same material as the mouth 22 and eye rims28. However, the antenna 24 are anchored or otherwise fixed to the head12 at one end only with a free end allowing the antenna 24 to bemanipulated into a variety of positions. Additionally, the antenna 24may be twisted, spiralled or straightened depending on the general“mood” or facial expression which is to be conveyed by the doll 10.

[0018] The stuffed doll 10 of this embodiment is lined in a soft fabricsuch as velour. This soft and pliable fabric tends to “move” togetherwith the facial features so as to increase the range of configurationsin which the facial features may be manipulated. Particular features,such as the mouth 22, may also be manipulated 3-dimensionally with, forexample, a lower lip of the mouth being raised outwardly and upwardly tooverlap the upper lip. Otherwise, the face la of the doll 10 can bemanipulated into a variety of shapes and corresponding facialexpressions. FIG. 3 indicates some of the possible configurations andexpressions of the doll 10 of this embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in some detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the doll has at least the

[0020] following advantages: the facial expression of the doll can bevaried by manipulating and thus deforming one or more of its facialfeatures;

[0021] (i) the facial expression of the doll can be varied bymanipulating and thus deforming one or more of its facial features;

[0022] (ii) the doll is relatively simple in construction where, forexample, the facial features are merely fixed to the face of the doll;and

[0023] (iii) the doll is relatively versatile and adaptable for use byboth children and adults as a toy for stress relief.

[0024] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventiondescribed herein is susceptible to variations and modifications otherthan those specifically described. modification example, the facialfeatures may be constructed of practically any material which can beplastically deformed to vary and retain its shape, such as a deformableplastic material possibly in the form of a foam. The facial feature maybe fixed to the face via an adhesive or fastener although the stitchingdescribed is preferable.

[0025] All such variations and modifications are to be considered withinthe scope of the present invention the nature of which is to bedetermined from the foregoing description. It is to be understood that,if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference doesnot constitute an admission that the information forms a part of thecommon general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

1. A doll comprising a face having one or more facial elements eachbeing representative of a facial feature and being elongate and of anendless loop configuration which is stitched or otherwise adhered at atleast two opposite and distant locations to an exposed surface of theface, each of the facial elements being constructed of a plasticallydeformable material which can be manipulated whereupon it retains itsmanipulated shape to change the shape of the facial feature and thus thefacial expression of the doll.
 2. A doll as defined in claim 1 whereineach of the facial elements includes an elongate member of an endlessloop configuration.
 3. A doll as defined in claim 2 wherein the elongatemember is in the form of the facial feature of a mouth or an eye's rim.4. A doll as defined in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the facial element isstitched or otherwise adhered to the surface of the face.
 5. A doll asdefined in any one of the claims 2 to 5 wherein the elongate member ofthe facial element includes a relatively light gauge rod of aplastically deformable material such as a wire or plastic material.
 6. Adoll as defined in claim 6 wherein the light gauge rod is a corematerial about which a decorative liner is disposed.
 7. A doll asdefined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the face isfabricated from a pliable fabric such as velour.